DDLG Lifestyle

I woke up this morning with this Motown classic replaying again and again on my mind.

I died in my dream today. I was crushed between a bus and a building that was being dragged by the ocean waves flooding the streets of the city. I couldn’t outrun it!, and then pitch black and complete silence.

I opened my eyes; I’m standing in shallow warm shimmering waters reflecting the stars above; but it still feels pitch black here! I can hear the sounds of ocean life and something else, someone else.

My ears initially lead the way until I saw a small golden shimmering glow in the distance. After about 30-40 minutes I come across a Beast! It was a feline with golden fur, wings beautiful mesmerizing eyes. She stood about 2-3 feet taller than me and I’m 6’3.

Welcome She says in a soft and peaceful voice.

“Am I dead?” Not quite, but yes you are she replied.

Confused by her response, I followed her as she leads the way. Come with me, I want to show you something she suggests. We come across a cave as she leads me inside. The water is now still inside the cave as we arrive. Inside, about 30 subjects of different kind, some human, some animals, some both are doing an array of things. Some are building, others are on their computers sipping on tea.

“What did you enjoy doing in your previous life?” She asks.

I enjoyed cooking, fast cars, coffee, reading.. .

“How exciting! We are currently in the process of preparing for a cook off competition! We have a racing team and a book club. You should try out see what you like most, or do them all. For a minute I forgot about everything and I jumped on the idea of the cook off.

“Anyone participating in the cook-off competition, gather around! Close your eyes and wait for your cooking buddy” Slightly still intimidated by my surroundings I didn’t close my eyes, but instead squinted while I waited. I can hear and slightly see a giant silhouette walking towards me, he picks me up and claims me as his cooking buddy. I found mine! He shouts.

“Places everyone!” The feline beast shouts. And then it hit me. Wait a minute. What is going on here? Where am I? What does all this mean? My mind now cluttered with questions I stopped.

“Excuse me? What is going on here?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” The feline beast replies; “Is everything ok?, would you rather do something else?”

“I think I rather go home” I said.

She ignored my reply. “Let me show you what else we have” She gave me a tour around the array of caves with different themes and a variety of things to do.

I asked; “Where am I?”

She replied; “You are here”

“I know I am here, but where is here?”

“Everyone! Let’s get started for our next event!”

“Wait! I’m not happy here” I yelled.

Everyone stopped and turned to look at me. “Are you not doing things that make you happy?” The feline beast asks. To which I replied.

“I do the things I love, not because they make me happy, but because through those things I can make others happy”.

“I dont understand what you mean” She says.

I love cooking, I am passionate about cooking. But I love cooking because through my food I am able to provide nourishing to others. With that skill I am able to give others love.

Everyone seems confused! As if nothing I said made sense to them. So I asked. Does anyone here know what LOVE is?

What? What? I can hear in the background. OK! Everyone gather around; Show of hands; how many of you know what LOVE is? Uncertain, the bird/human on their laptop raises his hand. I approach them and ask; “Ok what’s Love?”

“I love playing video games on my computer” He replied.

Ok, but do you know what it is?

“It’s a desire to want something really bad and the feeling of satisfaction when you receive it” He says.

That’s not love. That’s a want, a wish, a crave. Love for others to be happy as you are, I added. Nobody responds. The bird/human whispers softly; “I think you’re confusing everyone here Sir.” He stands up and walks with me.

“Look; the only way out of this place is by diving into the murky waters and coming out from the other side. That area over there, see it?”

I’m now standing on muddy murky waters. “What do I do again?”

“You have to dive inside”

“But the water is shallow.”

You have to get past the first layer.

I tried for hours until I finally did it! I was now on land. Fields of crops growing and people working the land. I made my way to the nearby village looking for a route out of the village. The only route out was through train. I long red bullet train at the station rapidly moving to and arriving daily. It only picked up passengers, it didn’t take any. I hoped on the train intro the conductors cabin to ask them if I can ride to their pick up location.

“Oh no, I can’t do that”

Why not?

“I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right”

I said; well, how long have you been conducting this train?

“I’d say mover a thousand years:” she replied.

Wow! That long? Do you ever take a vacation?

‘What’s that?”

How about breaks? Do you take breaks?

‘No”

Do you sleep?

“I haven’t slept in a very long time”

Why don’t you take a nap?

“Really?” Yes, take a nap and I will drive. I then take over the wheel, she makes her way back somewhere to nap as I take off. A few hours later, I arrive.

To the same location I started!!

“She wakes up” What’s going on? Where are we?”

We are back, I responded.

“That was quick! She says.

Look; I don’t think this here is going to be the route to where you want to go. The only way to get home; the only way to find your purpose, is to find yourself first driven by your passions. By Love! Let LOVE be the motivation that will give you the energy you need to find your way home.

LOVE is stronger than anything else. Love will move mountains, Love will lead you home. Love will drive you wherever you need to go.

I woke up.

I’m still processing everything. I am still remembering the small details. The things I saw. It’s a lot. Dreams usually enlighten me. They are vivid, they are continual; and they always have a lot to teach me about myself, about life.

Forgive me for the inexperience in storytelling. I really am trying to share my dream as close as I can to how I felt it.